About Us

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About Us

Before The Pipe Band

Pipe Major Norman Gillies was a soldier serving in the
Glasgow-based Light Infantry. While there he earned the
reputation of being one of Scotland's leading pipers. In
April 1975 he was appointed as the first instructor for the
schools of North West Ross-shire. It did not take long
before he had dozens of pupils learning the chanter in
Ullapool, Achiltibuie, Badcaul, Poolewe, Aultbea and
Gairloch with a high number of the children graduating to
play full-sized adult bagpipes.

How It All Started

On 3rd October 1977 a public meeting, chaired by James
Lavelle,was held in the village hall. Due to the amount of
pipers that were then in Ullapool and Coigeach, it was
decided to form a pipe band and “Ullapool & District Junior
Pipe Band” was formed. The first duty on the committee's
list was to raise enough money to equip the pipers and
drummers with instruments and uniforms. Committee member
Willie Macrae made an appeal to already established pipe
bands and got a great response from the Ardgay/Bonar Bridge
Pipe Band, the Dingwall Royal British Legion Pipe Band and
the 51st Highland Division Territorial Pipe Band. Their
donations of drums were used for tuition. Drums were then
purchased from the Isle of Skye Pipe Band for £80 and 7 good
drums costing £200 were bought from the Leyland (Scottish)
Pipe Band, Liverpool.

Getting The Drummers

Even in pre-World War II years Ullapool had always had a
good number of pipers such as the late Donald Ross and the
late Lewis-born Donald Macleod. Drumming was something that
had never been a practised skill in Ullapool or any of the
Highland area. While serving in the 4th Battalion Seaforth
Highlanders during the 2nd World War, Kenneth Mackenzie had
been taught snare-drumming and became the tutor in basic
snare, tenor and bass drumming for potential members of the
Ullapool & District Junior Pipe Band. James Urquhart and
Alex Strutt succeeded him.

The Uniforms

An appeal letter was sent to organisations and
individuals from all over. This resulted in a total
sum of £2000 being rasied which was quite a lot of
money back then. The pipe band committee could now
buy uniforms.

Mackenzie (Seaforth Highlands) Kilts

Green Barathea Jackets

Dress Mackenzie tartan ties, waistbelts, hose flashes, Glengarries

Seaforth Highlanders Glengarry Badges

Inverness Capes.

All the pairs of hose were knitted by committee members and locals like Mrs. Chrissie Macdougall, and Mrs. Mary Morrison!

Mackenzie Tartan.

Seaforth Highlanders Glengarry Badge.

First Public Performances

With no publicity the Ullapool & District Junior Pipe
Band with 9 pipers and 6 drummers made the first
appearance parading on the Ullapool Pier on Saturday
27th July 1979.

Due to the success of there debut invitations flooded in
from Lochinver and Maryburgh to perform there. Another
performance was given on the Ullapool Pier only this time
the pipe band were accompanied by 4 dancers from the “Ben
Wyvis” School of Highland Dancing. There tutor being Mrs
Dorothy Gollan.

During the summer months of 1980 there were 18
performances but not only in Ullapool, they also attended
the Dunbeath Highland Games, the Ardgay/Bonar Bridge Gala
Day, Inchnadamph, Lochinver and their debut in Achiltibuie.

Up To The Present Day

Since the “early years” of the Ullapool & District
Junior Pipe Band they have gone from strength to
strength in all areas, more pipers and drummers, more
and better equipment, and with the annual support from
the Ullapool and Coigeach committees their finances have
improved . As well as the local committees the North
British Hotels Trust have provided great financial aid,
and not to forget the generosity of tourists and locals
alike who attend the performances through out the summer
months.

The Pipe band and Highland Dancers for many years have
also played and danced for the much loved Queen Mother at
her annual “Highland Games” at the Castle of Mey. In 2013
the band played to HRH Princess Anne at the opening of the
World Skiff Championships in Ullapool, and we also perform
at Loopallu - Ullapool's annual music festival.

Please look around our site for more information about us
and what we do